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Follow Us5 first-class matches, two match-winning knocks that took his team home, a strike rate of above 70 for Bengal, and yet a lot to improve, Abishek Porel is surely the future of Bengal cricket. After his first season in the whites for Bengal, the southpaw believes he has a lot to improve and now wants to work on his mental aspect of the game. Moreover, the keeper batter is ready to don the colour jersey for Bengal as soon as possible.
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Abishek was first discovered after a scintillating season with the bat for Bengal in the Cooch Behar Trophy. Later he was called for the Under-19 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies and returned home with the trophy. However, the 53* in the second innings of his debut match against Baroda showed the world what he is keepable of. The bat flow, striking ability and fearless attitude gave Bengal the hope of a player who can dominate Indian cricket.
Porel always wanted to dominate domestic cricket. His fearless character helps him a lot in that. Although after spending a full Ranji Trophy season with the team, Abishek thinks it is not about dominating the bowlers, sometimes it is about staying calm and dominating the situation with patience.
The Bengal wicket-keeper batter is now at the National Cricket Academy in the Emerging camp. BCCI has set a high-performance camp for the best Under-23 players from the country to strengthen the bench of Indian cricket. Sudip Gharami and Abishek Porel are among the others present at the camp from Bengal.
After a tiring practice day in the camp, Abishek said, "I am working on myself here. I made a few mistakes in the last season and I do not want to repeat them in the coming season." Specific coaches are working on his side movements as a keeper and he is working on his patience game with the batting coaches in the camp.
Along with that Porel is working on his fitness, which is a must when comes to doing the all-rounder's job for the team. "Yes, the emphasis has been on building the strength as well. The daily routine here balances everything out. The coaches cover every part of our game. Moreover, we will play a lot of matches here. This is great for in the off-season," Abishek said.
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VSS Laxman is the main mind behind this camp. Nearly 60 players from all over India are present at the camp. The current NCA head wants them to learn quick adaptation from red-ball cricket to white-ball cricket. That is why they will play a few One-day format games after playing four-day games in between the four teams made within the camp.
"Sir wants us to learn how to play and adapt to every format of the game. We all want to play all the formats and be successful in that. The preparation has been great. Looking forward to playing the practice matches," Abishek said in an exclusive interview with Sportz Point via phone.
With more focus on his skills, Porel individually working on his mental part of the game too. He has added mediation and yoga to his routine to have more control of his mind when the situation demands. "I am doing yoga and mediation just to be more strong in my mind. I am constantly trying to be in a better place mentally," he added.
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Porel knows he made some mistakes last season. Though, he feels he is taking them as a learning and now wants to capitalise on every opportunity that Bengal team management provides him. Moreover, he is also aware that every opponent now knows how he bats and plays. So, they will come prepared for him. However, that is not bothering him as he knows he only can control what is in his hands. "I am aware that they will come prepared. But, I know if I get myself ready and work on the mistakes I have done last season, I will be good to go," Abishek expressed.
Abishek Porel was in the Bengal squad announced for the Namibia tour. Although the tour got cancelled, Porel wants to play all the formats for Bengal. "Last season I only featured in the red-ball format. Now I want to play in every format for Bengal. I am preparing for that here. Hopefully, I will get the chance as well," the young sensation added.
Abishek and other Bengal players will return to Kolkata on 31st August after spending nearly two months at the emerging camp.